Automatic interupter for electromagnetically-operated pawl-and-ratchet mechanism.



G. GRABE.

' AUTOMATIC INTERRUPTER FOB ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERATED PAWL ANDRATCHE'T MECHANISM.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. I5. I9Ie.

1,262,326. Patented Apr. 9, I918.

UNITED STATES PAEENT orrron.

GEORG GRABE, OF NIKOLASSEE, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS &HALSKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC INTERRUPTER FOR ELECTROMAGNETIOALLY-OPERATED PAWL-AND- RATCHETMECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG GRABE, a citizen of the German Empire, andresiding at Nikolassee, near Berlin, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Interrupters forElectromagnetically-Operated Pawl-and-Ratchet Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic makeand-break devices forelectromagnetically operated pawl-and-ratchet mechanisms, and a primaryobject is to provide that the pawland-ratchet mechanism is certainly fedone whole step Whenever the .armature is attracted by its magnet evenwhen the pawland-ratchet mechanism operates rapidly, to which end,according to .the invention, the interrupter contact is made and brokenat times when the armature is not moving or as near such times aspossible.

- I attain this endby elastically connecting the armature in such amanner with a lever arm moved by it that the latter lags behind themoved armature.

In a preferred form of such an interrupter or make-and-break device amomentum is imparted to a lever arm during the pull on the armature, andthe interrupter contact is'thereby broken after the completion of thepull on the armature and is made during the last part of the returnmovement of the armature or only after the completion of this movement.

To these ends, the invention consists in the construction, arrangementand combination of parts described hereinafter and pointed out in theclaims.

One illustrative embodiment of the in-- vention is represented by wayofexample in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sideelevation,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of an improved interrupter or make-and-breakdevice according to the invention.

Referrin to the drawing, in the frame a is journa ed an axle b whichcarries fast on it a ratchet Wheel 0 and the arm d, for

example the-switch arm of a selector. The

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed February 15, 1916. Serial No. 78,475.

A. lever arm m, preferably in the form of a leaf spring, is firmlyconnected at one end with the armature near its axle; the other end ofthis arm carries a longitudinally adjustable weight n. The contactsprings l0, Z and the spring m and the armature f are locatedapproximately parallel to one another and all in the same plane ofmovement. The free ends of the springs Zr, Z and m are directed in thesame direction and the springs is, Z are located be tween the spring 121and the armature f.

This arrangement is particularly simple and preferable because all theparts are readily accessible and adjustable. In addition, a leaf springis the simplest form of the lever arm m, and its attachment directly tothe armature is the simplest mode of attachment thereof.

The described device operates as follows lVhen the circuit containingthe electro magnet e and the contact springs 7r, Z has been closed thearn'lature f is attracted and the spring m is moved in the direction ofmovement of the armature. The weight n has imparted to it a certainspeed, and owing to the momentum of this weightthus created the free endof the spring m is moved farther than the stroke. of the armature f. Thespring in presses by means of an insulated pin 0 on the contact spring7:, which is only weak relatively to the spring m, and breaks thecontact 7) and the circuit of the electromagnet e. Consequently, thearmature returns into its normal position under the influence of thespring z" without the weight it immediately following the returnmovement of the armature. The direction of motion of the weight isreversed only after the armature has almost or quite returned into itsnormal position. The contact p is then made and the circuit of theelectromagnet is closed again, whereupon the described cycle ofoperations is repeated until the circuit of the electromagnet isoperated at some other place, say by the selector. I

The stroke of the armature can be' adjusted by a stop 1". This alsodetermines the momentum imparted to the weight a when the armature isattracted, and thus the throw of spring m. Further, this momentum can bevaried by shifting the weight n longitudinally on the spring m.

The frequency of oscillation of the armature is simultaneouslydetermined by these adjustments.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a make and break device,the combination with an electromagnet carried by a frame, a springinfluenced armature, contacts in circuit with said electromagnet,resilient springs carrying some of said contacts, all of said contactsbeing supported by said frame, of an elastic lever arm loaded at one endand having its other arm firmly connected With said armature and beingadapted to actuate said contacts, said lever adapted to lag in phasebehind the movement of-said armature and to determine its oscillationfrequenc 2. In a make and break evice, the combination with anelectromagnet carried by a frame, a spring influenced armature, contactsin circuit with said electromagnet, resilient springs carrying some ofsaid contacts, all of said contacts being supported by said frame, of anelastic lever arm loaded at one end and having its other arm firmlyconnected with said armature and being adapted to actuate said contacts,said lever adapted to lag in phase behind the movement of said armatureand to determine its oscillation frequency, and to swing through anamplitude larger. than that of the armature.

3. In a make-and-break device, the combination with an electromagnet, aspringinfluenced armature, a pair of contacts in v the circuit of theelectromagnet, one of said contacts being carrled by a spring, of anelastic lever arm loaded at one end and having its other end firmlycarried by the armature and provided with means for actuating saidcontact carrying spring, the said armature, contact spring and lever armbeing located substantially in one plane, the contact spring beingbetween the armature and the lever arm, whereby the contact of thecontact spring is broken after the armature has been attracted by theelectromagnet and is made only at the end of the return movement of thearmature into its normal position.

4. In a make and break device, the combination with an electromagnet, aspringinfluenced armature and apair of contacts in the circuit of theelectromagnet, one of said contacts being carried by a spring, of anelastic lever arm loaded at one end and having its other end firmlycarried by the armature butada ted to oscillate independently thereofand eing provided with means for actuating said contact-carrying spring,said armature, contact spring and lever 'arm being located substantiallyin one plane, the contact spring being between the armature and thelever arm, whereby the contact of the contact spring is broken after thearmature has been attracted by the electromagnet and is made only at theend of the return movement of the armature into its normal position.

5. In a make and break device, the com bination with an electroma net,aspring-influenced armature, a pair 0? in the circuit of theelectromagnet, one of said contacts being carried by a spring, of anelastic lever arm havin one end firmly carried by the armature or imarting to it the armature motion and adapted to freely oscillate withits other end and being provided with means for actuating said contactcarrying spring, a weight movable longitudinally on the other end of thelever arm causing a lag in the lever movement against. the armaturemovement, whereby, when the armature is attracted, the lever arm opensthe contact spring only at the end of the armature stroke and admits ofthe contact being made only at the end of the return movement of thearmature into its normal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORG GRABE.

contacts located

